Hot water dispenser



March 26, 1963 H. R. KARLEN ETAL 3,

HOT WATER DISPENSER Original Filed June 22. 1956 3,082,915 HOT WATERDISPENSER Harvey R. Karlen and David C. Eisendrath, Chicago, Ill,

assignors to Cory Corporation, a corporation of Deiaware Originalapplication June 22, 1956, Ser. No. 593,886, now Patent No. 2,869,760,dated Jan. 20, 1959. Divided and this application Dec. 1, 1958, Ser. No.777,307

6 Claims. (Cl. 222-446) This invention relates to a liquid dispenser andin particular to a hot water dispenser of the open-to-atmosphere type.

This application comprises a division of copending Harvey R. Karlen andDavid C. Eisendrath application Serial No. 593,086 for a Hot WaterDispenser, filed June 22., 1956, and now issued as United States LettersPatent No. 2,869,760 and owned by the common assignee.

One form of liquid dispenser is that wherein a tank is provided with anoutlet which is open to atmosphere at all times, and liquid flow throughthe tank and from the outlet is controlled by means associated with theinlet to the tank. In such a device, when the liquid flow into the tankis terminated, all liquid above the bottom of the outlet flowssubstantially immediately from the tank through the outlet. However,should the level of the liquid be raised subsequently above the bottomof the outlet due to any cause, this additional liquid will bedischarged through the outlet. Such a result could be produced merely bymoving the tank so as to affect the liquid level, e.g., by tilting thetank or vibrating it.

This subsequent discharge or dripping of the liquid from the tankthrough the outlet may also result Where a temperature variation in theliquid occurs, as the coeflicient of thermal expansion of liquids suchas water is sufiicient to cause a substantial volume change over arelatively small temperature range. In water heating devices for raisingliquid, such as tap water, to substantially boiling temperature, this isa very serious problem.

Applicants have devised and herein disclose and claim a new and improvedliquid dispensing means of the opento-atmosphere type and arranged toprevent positively undesirable discharge.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hotwater dispenser of the open-to atmosphere type which is non-dripping,when the flow therefrom is terminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hot water dispenserwherein means are provided for maintaining the outlet above the level ofthe free liquid in the tank whenever liquid flow into the tank isterminated.

A further object is to provide a hot Water dispenser having means forpositioning the outlet substantially above the level of the liquid inthe tank when the liquid flow thereinto is terminated.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying the invention,with portions thereof shown in diametric section, and with theelectrical wiring shown diagrammatically; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of the dispenser with the parts thereofshown in a full shutoif position.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, as disclosed in thedrawing, a hot water dispenser generally designated 110 is seen tocomprise a tank 111 having an outlet 112 and an inlet 113. Flow controlmeans 114 are provided to regulate flow of supply water United StatesPatent through inlet 113 into tank 111. Extending into tank 111,adjacent the bottom thereof, is a heating means 115 and thermostatcontrol means 116 arranged to control the ener-gization or" heatingmeans 115 and, thereby, the temperature of the liquid in tank 111.

Tank 111 is illustratively shown as a cylindrical tank, having asidewall 111a. Outlet .112. is provided in sidewall 111a and comprisesan opening 112a preferably formed as a vertically elongated slot. Ablock 1121) is secured to wall 1110 by suitable screws 1120 with agasket 112d therebetween for sealing the connection. A recess 112aopening through one side of the block is arranged to be in communicationwith the entirety of slot 112a and, extending vertically through theblock in recess 1122, is an open-ended discharge tube 112f. A relativelysmall hole 112g is provided in the wall of the tube to providecommunication between the interior of the tube and recess 112e, allowingliquid to pass from the tank through the recess and outwardly throughthe tube. O-ring sealing means 11% are provided in block 1121) forpreventing leakage from outlet 112 while permitting vertical positioningof the tube and, therefore, the positioning of hole 112g relative to theblock.

Inlet 113 comprises a tubular element extending through wall 111aadjacent the bottom of the tank. At its outer end, inlet 113 isconnected to the flow control means 114 which illustratively comprises asolenoid-operated valve adapted to be in the valve-opened position whenenergized and in the valve-closed position when deenergized. Valve 114is further adapted to be connected to a source of liquid such as coldWater under pressure (not shown).

Heating means 115 illustratively comprises an electrical heating coilwhich passes through wall 111a and is disposed within the tank below theinlet tube 113. The heating coil is connected exteriorly of tank 111 toa suitable source of electrical power (not shown). Thermostatic controlmeans 116 extends through tank wall 11 1a somewhat above inlet 1'13 andheating coil 115. The thermostatic control means is connected in serieswith heating coil 115 across the .power supply. Thus, the heating coil115 is energized whenever the temperature of the liquid within the tankfalls below a predetermined point.

An imperforate housing 117a is arranged to extend from the top of tank111 downwardly to below the bottom of slot 112a. Operating means 118 areprovided, including an operating lever 118a "and a yoke 1180 whichconnects the lever 118a to tube 112 A more detailed description of theelements of dispenser which are similar to the elements of dispenser 10of the above indicated Karlen and Eisendrath application Serial No.593,086 will be found in that application, to which reference may be hadfor a complete understanding of the structure and functioning thereof.

The functioning of dispenser 11 1 is as follows. As best seen in FIGURE2, when lever 118a is pivoted to the Oii position, hole 112g ispositioned substantially above the water in the tank 111 and recess 112ewhich, in effect, increases the effective volume of the tank for holdingthe water. This prevents dripping of water from tube 112 when flowcontrol means 114 is closed. As seen in FIGURE 1, when lever 118a ispivoted to the On position, hole 112g is moved to its lower limit oftravel, horizontally of the bottom of slot 112a. At the same time,operating means 118 causes solenoid valve 114 to be opened, therebyadmitting supply water through inlet 113 into tank 111. This causes thepreviously heated water to pass outwardly through outlet 112 to effect anormal dispensing of hot water from the dispenser.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it isto be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as'defined in theappended claims.

We claim:

1. In a liquid dispenser, means of the character described, comprising:a tank; a vertically movable outlet from the tank providingcommunication between the inside and outside of the tank at all times;an inlet into the tank; valve means for controlling flow of liquidthrough said inlet into said tank; and means associated with the valvemeans and outlet, the last named means being selectively operable tomove the outlet to one position and concurrently arrange the valve meansto cause liquid to flow into said inlet, and to move the outlet to asecond, higher position above the level of liquid in the tank andconcurrently arrange the valve means to cause the liquid flow to bestopped.

2. In a liquid dispenser, means of the character described, comprising:a tank having a top; a vertically movable outlet from the tank adjacentthe top providing communication between the inside and outside of thetank at all times; a housing in the tank extending downwardly from thetop to below the outlet and arranged to extend over a substantial areaof the tank laterally of the outlet; an inlet into the tank; means forcontrolling flow of liquid through said inlet into the tank; and meansfor alternatively increasing and decreasing the volume of the tankeffective for holding liquid comprising means for raising and loweringthe outlet, said raising and lowering means being operably associatedwith the flow controlling means to move the outlet to one position whenliquid is flowing into said inlet and to a second, higher position abovethe level of liquid in the tank when liquid flow is stopped.

3. In a liquid dispenser, means of the character de-' scribed,comprising: a tank having a vertical wall and a top; an elongatedvertical slot in said wall adjacent the top; a block sealingly securedto said wall and covering the slot, said block having a recesscommunicating with the slot; a tube vertically movably carried by theblock to extend through said recess and provided with an opening havinga vertical extent substantially less than the vertical extent of theslot, said slot, block, and tube coacting to form a verticallyadjustable outlet means providing communication between the inside andoutside of the tank at all times; and means for introducing a volume ofliquid into the tank and concurrently disposing the tube with saidopening spaced below the top of the slot.

4. In a liquid dispenser, means of the character described, comprising:a tank having a vertical wall and a top; an elongated vertical slot insaid wall adjacent the top; a block sealingly secured to said wall andcovering the slot, said block having a recess communicating with theslot; a tube vertically movably carried by the block to extend throughsaid recess, said tube being provided with an opening communicating withthe recess and having a vertical extent substantially less than thevertical extent of the slot, and a lower outlet; an inlet into saidtank; means for controlling flow of liquid through said inlet and intosaid tank; and means for operating said tube and said last named meansconcurrently to dispose the tube with the opening below the top of saidslot and effect fluid flow through the inlet, through the tank, andoutwardly through said slot, recess, tube opening, tube and tube outlet,and to operate the flow controlling means to terminate fluid flowthrough the inlet and to raise the tube opening subsequent totermination of fluid flow through the inlet. V

5. In a hot liquid dispenser, means of the character described,comprising: a tank having a vertical wall and a top; an elongatedvertical slot in said wall adjacent the top; a block sealingly securedto said wall and covering the slot, said block having a recesscommunicating with the slot; a tube vertically movably carried by theblock to extend through said recess and provided with an opening havinga vertical extent substantially less than the vertical extent of theslot, said slot, block, and tube coacting to form a verticallyadjustable outlet means providing communication between the inside andoutside of the tank at all times; an inlet into said tank; a solenoidvalve for controlling liquid flow into said inlet; an electrical switchfor controlling the solenoid valve, said valve being opened when saidswitch is closed; a lever arranged alternatively to move the tubedownwardly and close said switch and move the tube upwardly and opensaid switch; and means for heating the liquid in the tank.

6. In a liquid dispenser, means of the character described, comprising:a tank having a top; an inlet into the tank; means for controlling flowof liquid through said inlet into the tank; a vertically movable outletfrom the tank adjacent the top providing communication between theinside and the outside of the tank at all times; and means foralternatively increasing and decreasing the volume of the tank effectivefor holding liquid including means operated by the flow control meansfor raising the outlet when said flow control means is arranged toprevent flow into the tank and lowering the outlet when said controlmeans is arranged to permit flow into the tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS234,670 Hall Nov. 23, 1880 1,515,878 Ouimet Nov. 18, 1924 2,247,824Sharp July 1, 1941 2,847,145 Brasile et al. Aug. 12, 1958 2,931,459Wiles et al. Apr. 5, 1960

1. IN A LIQUID DISPENSER, MEANS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING:A TANK; A VERTICALLY MOVABLE OUTLET FROM THE TANK PROVIDINGCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TANK AT ALL TIMES;AN INLET INTO THE TANK; VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF LIQUIDTHROUGH SAID INLET INTO SAID TANK; AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VALVEMEANS AND OUTLET, THE LAST NAMED MEANS BEING SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TOMOVE THE OUTLET TO ONE POSITION AND CONCURRENTLY ARRANGE THE VALVE MEANSTO CAUSE LIQUID TO FLOW INTO SAID INLET, AND TO MOVE THE OUTLET TO ASECOND, HIGHER POSITION ABOVE THE LEVEL OF LIQUID IN THE TANK AND